News
Nominations called for long postponed local polls from March 17
Despite the requests made by the opposition to fix a date for the local government elections after the conclusion of budget debates, the Election Commission announced on yesterday that they will accept nominations for the 2025 Local Government Elections from 17 March 2025.
A senior election officer said that the nomination period will end on 20 March, only a day before the third reading of the Appropriation Bill. Thus, political parties will not have to divide their time between debating and campaigning, he said.
Commenting on the announcement, Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake, told The Island that they welcomeD the announcement of the Commission and that the Supreme Court last year had directed the Commission to hold the long delayed local council elections as soon as possible.
“Local councils had been inactive for almost two years now,” he said.
Chairman of the Commission R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said the commission will accept nominations until 12 noon on 20 March 2025.
The notices announcing the acceptance of nominations for 336 local government institutions, which includes 28 Municipal Councils, 36 Urban Councils and 272 Pradeshiya Sabhas, had now been published in the respective local authorities, he said.
However, elections will not be held to Kalmunai Municipal Council, Dehiattakandiya Pradeshiya Sabha (Ampara District), Mannar Pradeshiya Sabha (Mannar District), Punakari Pradeshiya Sabha (Kilinochchi District), and Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha (Galle District).
Deposits from candidates will be accepted from March 3 to March 19, 2025, until 12.00 noon, excluding March 13, the Poya Day and weekends on March 8, 9, 15, and 16. (RK)
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, at Temple Tress on the 17th of February
Dr. Georgieva, commended the Government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy and in managing recent economic and natural shocks. She noted that Cyclone Ditwah had caused severe impacts, especially on economically vulnerable communities, underscoring the importance of targeted support and resilience-building measures.
The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the IMF’s continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The PM further emphasized that real economic recovery and development must directly benefit the economically vulnerable groups and ensure inclusive growth, highlighting the need for Sri Lanka to attract quality and sustainable investments, particularly in the tourism sector.
The importance of reforming the education system to focus not only on knowledge acquisition but also on skills development and employability was also discussed
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the IMF Managing Director Andreas Bauer, Director, Asia and Pacific Department, Dr. Krishna Srinivasan Division Chief (Strategic Communications), Communications Department, Pierre Mejlak Resident Representative for Sri Lanka Dr. Martha Woldemichael, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Deputy Governor Dr. C. Amarasekara, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.
The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.
News
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